Reel to reel | Week of November 1, 2012

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Rapper RZA spent all that time rhyming and learned to make good films somehow.

35TH STARZ DENVER FILM FESTIVAL

Denver Film Society celebrates its 35th anniversary by screening over 250 films, featuring acclaimed individuals in the movie industry, and many other entertaining events. Some of this year’s highlights include A Late Quartet, about a cellist diagnosed with Parkinson’s (Christopher Walken); the dysfunctional family dark comedy Silver Linings Playbook with Jackie Weaver, Robert DeNiro and Bradley Cooper, and Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut Quartet, about a house full of retired theater folk. The festival runs Nov. 1 to Nov. 11.

ALEX CROSS

A young homicide detective/psychologist, Alex Cross, finds out that a member of his family has been murdered by a serial killer. Cross meets the killer and his revenge pushes him to the edge of his moral and psychological limits. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN

This real-life political thriller based on Watergate won and was nominated for a slew of awards, including an Oscar for William Goldman’s adaptation of Woodward and Bernstein’s book. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

ARGO

Ben Affleck’s latest directing project (in which he also stars) is based on true events from the Iranian revolution in 1979. Militants storm the U.S. embassy and take 52 Americans hostage, but six Americans escape to the home of a Canadian ambassador. A CIA agent comes forward to get them out of the country before they’re found. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

THE ARTIST IS PRESENT

Maria Abramovic uses her body as a vehicle, pushing herself beyond her physical and mental limits to redefine art and create a performance that will challenge, shock and move us. IFS at VAC Basement Auditorium.

BEST OF THE NY INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL

Fabulous short subjects have been selected as the best in kids movies not cooked in the cauldron of Hollywood’s big studios. Kid Flix Mix is ideal for ages 4-8, with no advanced verbal or reading skills needed to appreciate their charm, including a sequel to The Gruffalo. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

BRICK

Winner of the Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, writer/director Rian Johnson takes the spirit of hard-boiled noir mysteries somewhere new — modern-day Southern California. At Esquire. –– Landmark Theatres

BROOKLYN CASTLE

Brooklyn Castle tells the stories of five members of the chess team at I.S. 318, a below-the-poverty-line inner city junior high school that has won more national championships than any other in the country. The documentary follows the challenges these kids face in their personal lives as well as on the chessboard, and is as much about the sting of their losses as it is about the anticipation of their victories. Rated PG. At Chez Artise. –– Landmark Theatre

CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER

Married young and growing apart, she’s on her way up, he’s on his way nowhere, and they’re navigating a split while remaining supportive friends. Jesse passively accepts the transition, even though he’s still in love with Celeste. As the reality of their separation sets in, she slowly realizes she’s been cavalier about their relationship, and the decision which once seemed mature and progressive now seems impulsive and selfish. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

CHASING MAVERICKS

When 15-year-old Jay discovers that one of the biggest waves on Earth, the mythic Mavericks, exists just miles from his home in Santa Cruz, he seeks the help of local legend Frosty Hesson to help to train him to conquer it. Rated PG. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

CHICKEN WITH PLUMS

Since his beloved violin was broken, a renowned musician has lost all taste for life. Finding no instrument worthy of replacing it, he decides to confine himself to bed to await death and is given a revelation the future of his children by the Angel of Death. Rated PG-13. At Chez Artiste. –– Landmark Theatres

CLOUD ATLAS

See full review. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

COSMOPOLIS

Riding across Manhattan in a stretch limo to get a haircut, a 28-year-old billionaire asset manager’s day devolves into a surreal odyssey as it leads him to a most terrifying secret: his assasination. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

DETROPIA

See full review. At Boedecker. –– Denver Film Society

DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL

This documentary chronicles 50 years of international fashion and Diana Vreeland as a visionary with the ability to invent and discover fashion ideas, designers, personalities and photographers. Rated PG-13. At Esquire. –– Landmark Theatre

FLIGHT

Denzel Washington stars in this action-packed mystery thriller as a seasoned pilot who saves his plane after a mid-air disaster, rescuing almost all his passengers. He’s dubbed a hero but learns that the plane’s malfunctions reveal something different. Rated R. At Colony Square, Century and Twin Peaks.

FRANKENWEENIE 3D

Tim Burton applies his brilliant and grim creative palette to the story of a young boy who brings his dog back to life. Rated PG. At Colony Square.

FUN SIZE

Wren, a high school senior eager to distance herself from her dysfunctional family, is forced to babysit her little brother on Halloween. Her brother goes missing in a crowd of trick-or-treaters and Wren seeks the help of her nerdy friends to find her brother before her mother finds out. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

THE GODFATHER

Widely thought of as one of the best American films ever made, The Godfather stars Marlon Brando as the head of a Mafia family who has to transfer the family business over to his reluctant son. IFS at Muenzinger Auditorium.

THE GODFATHER: PART II

The legendary sequel to The Godfather, Robert De Niro dominates as Vito Corleone, while his son expands and tightens his grip on his crime syndicate. IFS at Muenzinger Auditorium.

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3D

Dracula invites some of the world’s most famous monsters to celebrate his daughter’s 118th birthday at Hotel Transylvania, a lavish resort where humans will not be able to bother them. Rated PG. At Century and Colony Square.

THE HOUSE I LIVE IN

Filmed in more than 20 states, the documentary captures heart-wrenching stories from individuals at all levels of America’s War on Drugs. From the dealer to the grieving mother, the film offers a penetrating look inside America’s longest war, offering a definitive portrait and revealing its profound human rights implications. At Chez Artiste. –– Landmark Theatres

IT’S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY

Don Hertzfeldt’s trilogy comes to a close in this chapter that finds a hospitalized Bill grappling with his failing memory. IFS at Muezinger.

KEEP THE LIGHTS ON

Documentary filmmaker Erik and closeted lawyer Paul meet on a cruising chat line, but soon find a deeper connection and become a couple. The narrative checks in on Erik and Paul’s relationship every few years over a decade, revealing in rich and telling detail the highs and lows of a memorable love story. At Mayan. –– Landmark Theatres

LOOPER

This time-travel tale features Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a young Bruce Willis. In the future, the mob sends victims back in time to be killed by special assassins, called loopers. But when “old Joe” (Willis) is sent back to be killed by “young Joe” (Gordon- Levitt), all hell breaks loose. Chock full of drugs you put in your eyes and telekinetic kids, this mostly clever sci-fi tale is another solid base hit for writer/director Rian Johnson, who could really use a home run. Rated R. At Century. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS

Set in 19th century China, Russell Crowe stars along the sexy Lucy Liu in this epic story of warriors, assassins and a lone outsider who must unite to kill the clan traitor. Rated R. At Twin Peaks and Century.

THE MASTER

Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest challenging character sketch is set against a backdrop of pseudo-Scientology, as Joaquin Phoenix plays a troubled soldier fresh out of WW2, and Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a quasi-L Ron Hubbard. Depressing, challenging and muted, it’s guaranteed to spark discussion and mainstream teeth-gnashing. Rated R. At Esquire. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

THE OTHER DREAM TEAM

This
is the story of the 1992 Lithuanian Olympic basketball team, a group of
trailblazing athletes who won the bronze at the Barcelona Olympics and
left an indelible mark on the history books. At Chez Artiste. ––
Landmark Theatres.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4

In
the fourth installment of this popular horror franchise, a suburban
family witness strange events in their home and neighborhood when a
woman and a mysterious child move in. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square
and Twin Peaks.

THE PAPERBOY

Lured
by imploring letters from the beautiful siren Charlotte, handsome,
hard-nosed reporter Ward James and his partner, Yardley Acheman, return
to Ward’s hometown of Florida, to investigate the seemingly unjust
imprisonment of Charlotte’s lover, alligator hunter Hillar Van Wetter. Starring Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey and John Cusack. Rated R. At Mayan. –– Landmark Theatres

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

A funny and touching coming-of-age story, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a modern classic that captures the dizzying highs and crushing lows of growing up. Rated PG-13. At Colony Square, Century and Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

PITCH PERFECT

Itty-bitty
pretty Anna Kendrick stars as a college freshman sucked into the world
of competitive college singing. With the aid of a group of misfits, an
all-female group hopes to make it to the final bout and gain redemption and respect. And along the way ladies make snow angels in pools of vomit and talk a lot about sex. So it’s Glee and anti-Glee all at the same time. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. —The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

THE ROOM 

The Room is
a love triangle between a banker, his fickle fiance and his hunky best
friend. His world starts to fall apart once his when his friends begin
to betray him one-by-one. IFS at VAC Basement Auditorium.

ROYAL BALLET’S SWAN LAKE

The battle between white and black swan unfolds in Swan Lake, surely the greatest of all Romantic ballets, with Zenaida Yanowskly and Nehemiah Kish. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

SMASHED

Smashed is
a dramatic comedy about fidelity — and what it
means to be committed to someone, to love
someone, and to need to change your life… when your partner isn’t
capable of change. At Esquire. –– Landmark Theatres

THE SESSIONS

Based on the poignantly optimistic autobiographical writings of California-based journalist and poet Mark O’Brien, The Sessions tells the triumphant story of a man confined to an iron lung who is determined — at age 38 — to lose his virginity. At Mayan. –– Landmark Theatres.

SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS

An
ensemble cast that includes Colin Farrell, Christopher Walken, Woddy
Harrelson and Tom Waits play a writer and his friends willing to go all
ends necessary to help with finishing the screenplay, “Seven
Psychopaths.” Rated R. At Century and Colony Square.

SILENT HILL: REVELATION 3D

A
young girl’s father disappears on the eve of her 18th birthday and she
discovers that she is not who she thinks she is. This revelation leads
her deeper into demonic world that threatens to trap her forever. Rated
R. At Colony Square, Century and Twin Peaks.

SINISTER

A true crime novelist moves his wife and kids into the home of a murdered family hoping to find clues on the whereabouts of the family’s missing daughter. Instead, he finds a box of home movies in the attic that calls a supernatural horror back into the house. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

TAKEN 2

In this sequel, Liam Neeson returns as Bryan Mills. His wife and him are being captured in Istanbul
by the father of one of the kidnappers he’d killed back in Europe while
saving his daughter.
Rated PG-13. At Century.

WILD HORSE, WILD RIDE

The Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge is an annual contest in which 100 people each have 100 days to tame a totally wild mustang so it can be adopted into a better life. Follow a handful of diverse and unforgettable
characters as horses and trainers push each other to the limit, showing
how much can come from these intense relationships between person and animal. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

WRECK-IT RALPH (3D)

Set
in a world of video games, Ralph is tired of being the villain and goes
on a game-hopping journey across the arcade to prove that he has what he takes to be the hero. Rated PG. At Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

WAR OF THE BUTTONS

Set in rural occupied France during World War II, War of the Buttons tells
the tale of pre-teen rebel Lebrac and the “war” he leads between two
rival kid gangs from neighboring villages. Once Lebrac falls for
Violette Oct (Ilona Bachelier), a young Jewish girl who
is new in town and in danger of being exposed by the Nazis, the children
are faced with putting their own conflicts aside to protect her and
confront the very real war happening around them. Rated PG-13. At Chez
Artiste. –– Landmark Theatres

YOUNG FILMMAKERS WORKSHOP AT THE 35TH STARZ DENVER FILM FESTIVAL

Scott Kinnamon and the Young Filmmaker Workshops return this fall for the 35th Starz Denver Film Festival to present a unique documentary workshop.